{"id":488526,"date":"2024-10-07T06:35:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T04:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?p=488526"},"modified":"2024-10-07T06:35:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T04:35:00","slug":"no-plane-can-take-to-the-air-without-wind-tunnel-models","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/no-plane-can-take-to-the-air-without-wind-tunnel-models\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018No plane can take to the air without wind tunnel models\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cBack in 2014 we created the first wind tunnel models for the Ariane 6 (ESA\u2019s newest rocket model,<\/a> Ed.), which was successfully launched in July 2024. The fact that everything around the launch went so well gave us an enormous sense of pride.\u201d As a Mechanical Design Engineer at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), Shafeeq Kasiemkhan works with planes, helicopters and rockets that the rest of the world only sees when they finally take to the air years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The testing and validation of new aircraft with wind tunnel models is indispensable for the aviation of tomorrow. The models are used to develop new aircraft types and research innovative technology. They enable aircraft manufacturers to determine the optimal aerodynamic properties before a prototype has even been built. Added to that, the simulations save time and money and improve safety because any problems can be identified and resolved before the new aircraft actually takes to the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NLR has a state-of-the-art facility in Marknesse in the Netherlands with its own workshop in which the models are designed, built and fitted with advanced measuring equipment. This advanced equipment \u2013 \u200b\u200bsuch as balances that enable the load on a model to be very precisely measured in all directions \u2013 is also being designed by Shafeeq and his team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that this NLR one-stop-shop and the DNW wind tunnels<\/a> (German-Dutch Wind Tunnels) are located less than fifty metres apart in Marknesse makes it a unique test location. NLR designs wind tunnel models for international research projects and aircraft manufacturers in Europe, Brazil, South Korea and the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>
Arun Karwal is testpilot at NLR. \u00b4What I like most about my job? When I see innovations I tested years ago being used on regular flights\u00b4<\/div>
In the series \u2018NLR People\u2019, we show you who the experts at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre are, and what they are working on behind the scenes. In this episode: Arun Karwal.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Quickly collecting huge amounts of data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSee that big tunnel there?\u201d Shafeeq asks as he points from his office on the NLR campus in Marknesse to a grey installation measuring 9.5 by 9.5 metres. \u201cThat\u2019s the Large-Low Speed Facility (LLF), a wind tunnel with a closed return circuit. We can perform tests there at speeds of up to 550 kilometres per hour.\u201d The tunnel is mainly suitable for aerodynamic and aeroacoustic research during take-off and landing phases and is large enough to test complete aircraft configurations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shafeeq: \u201cThe wind tunnel models contain thousands of sensors that can measure values such as pressure distribution, airflow profiles, noise production and temperatures on the model surface. So a wind tunnel test can quickly collect huge amounts of data.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among other things, Shafeeq is working on wind tunnel models with new materials (for example, the replacement of steel with carbon or glass fibre) and wing structures. In the future, aircraft will become even lighter and more flexible, which means flutter will become a bigger problem. To analyse this, his team developed<\/a> a new wind tunnel wing model that makes it possible to analyse vibrations in real time during wind tunnel tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pushing the boundaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another research study in which Shafeeq is closely involved is the ATTILA project<\/a>, which is a European platform for testing tilt rotors in wind tunnels. One of the EU\u2019s environmental and mobility goals is for citizens to be able to travel from door to door in 4 hours in 90% of cases. To achieve that goal, a new type of aircraft is required that is somewhere between conventional helicopters and planes. That\u2019s where tilt rotors come into play. The rotors of a tilt rotor can tilt, enabling the aircraft to fly horizontally at high speed and take off and land vertically \u2013 which saves an enormous amount of space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>With tilt rotors, however, the mechanical interplay between the wing and the rotor is difficult to predict. That presents a major challenge, Shafeeq explains. \u201cThere are three blades on the wing of a tilt rotor. Whirl flutter occurs when the movements of an aircraft\u2019s rotors and wings influence and reinforce each other. So you want to be able to set and vibrate them collectively but also independently of each other so that you can simulate the situation in a wind tunnel,\u201d Shafeeq explains. At DLR, they designed a device that can do this. However, it turned out to be too bulky and heavy so they asked NLR for advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shafeeq played a key role in developing a mechanical (and therefore much lighter) device. The model has now been successfully tested and a patent application has been filed for the design. What does Shafeeq like most about his job? \u201cFinding answers to almost impossible questions. I like to push the boundaries and operate out of the box. So that when the job becomes technically difficult I can still come up with a solution, as happened with ATILLA. If I had to name one thing that I\u2019m proud of in my career, that would be it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>
Gerard van Es works towards a safer aviation: \u2018Research is essential for safe flying\u2019<\/div>
In the series \u2018NLR People\u2019, we show you who the experts at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre are, what drives them, and what they are working on. In this first episode: Gerard van Es.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

The new generation of manufacturers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a boy, Shafeeq was always fascinated by aviation and space travel. Whether it involved going to Schiphol Airport to spot planes, giving school presentations about space or building model rockets at home: He first took a secondary vocational course in aircraft maintenance technology, then did an internship at Schiphol and finally decided to study aircraft engineering. Shafeeq has now been working at NLR for ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important advice he ever received was from a colleague who has since retired: \u2018Always strive for perfection\u2019. \u201cI have a first-time-right job. Because it\u2019s so expensive to design, create and test a wind tunnel model, everything has to work perfectly straight away. I had to get used to that at the start because it involves a certain kind of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And due to this pressure it can be quite a challenge to find the right personnel. That is why Shafeeq believes it is important to spend a lot of time, effort and attention on guiding interns and new employees. Something that his colleagues say he can do better than anyone. How exactly does he do that? The main thing he wants from his trainees is that they dare to do new things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI have a first-time-right job. Because it\u2019s so expensive to design, create and test a wind tunnel model, everything has to work perfectly straight away. I had to get used to that at the start because it involves a certain kind of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\nShafeeq Kasiemkhan<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey should be given the chance to make mistakes because that\u2019s when you learn the most. I just think that it\u2019s very important for the next generation of builders to be expertly guided. After all, they\u2019re the future of our department. We design the hardware here in our department and those designs become reality downstairs in the workshop. So once an intern has come up with an idea, I ask them to walk downstairs and talk with the colleague who has to create it. You learn a lot from that direct feedback. But the most important message to get across is that the work that we do here is indispensable. Because new sustainable aircraft can only be validated in wind tunnels. Without our work, no plane can take to the air.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cBack in 2014 we created the first wind tunnel models for the Ariane 6 (ESA\u2019s newest rocket model, Ed.), which was successfully launched in July 2024. The fact that everything around the launch went so well gave us an enormous sense of pride.\u201d As a Mechanical Design Engineer at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), Shafeeq Kasiemkhan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1744,"featured_media":506039,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"views\/single-partner.blade.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[84026],"tags":[47287,48777,79631],"location":[6763],"article_type":[6758],"serie":[],"archives":[],"internal_archives":[],"reboot-archive":[82795],"class_list":["post-488526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data","tag-aviation","tag-nlr","tag-nlr-people","location-netherlands","article_type-interview","reboot-archive-data"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":{"subtitle":"In the series \u2018NLR People\u2019, we show you who the experts at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre are, and what they are working on behind the scenes. In this episode: Shafeeq Kasiemkhan, Mechanical D","text_display_homepage":false},"author_meta":{"display_name":"Aafke Eppinga","author_link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/author\/aafke-eppinga\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/NLR_2024_058_11_preview.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["DATA+<\/a>"],"unlinked":["DATA+<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["aviation<\/a>","NLR<\/a>","NLR People<\/a>"],"unlinked":["aviation<\/span>","NLR<\/span>","NLR People<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 2 years ago","modified":"Updated 2 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on October 7, 2024","modified":"Updated on October 7, 2024"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on October 7, 2024 6:35 am","modified":"Updated on October 7, 2024 6:35 am"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=488526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488526\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/506039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=488526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=488526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=488526"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=488526"},{"taxonomy":"article_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_type?post=488526"},{"taxonomy":"serie","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/serie?post=488526"},{"taxonomy":"archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/archives?post=488526"},{"taxonomy":"internal_archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal_archives?post=488526"},{"taxonomy":"reboot-archive","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reboot-archive?post=488526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}